MirrorCompare can be used to detect any discrepancies between the configuration and other system settings between IRIS instances. Use it to compare two mirror failover members to ensure a smooth transition from the primary member to the backup in the future. You can also use MirrorCompare to determine configuration differences between any two IRIS instances, whether they are part of a mirror, or not.

MirrorCompare has a client/server architecture with a flexible and easy-to-use client interface running on Windows, and a zero-overhead REST server running on the IRIS hosts that are part of your mirror configuration. Host information is output in standard JSON format and the data can easily be fed to other systems in your organization for reporting and other post-processing purposes. Use your favorite visual compare tool when viewing differences between mirror member configurations.

MirrorCompare provides the following functionality using tabbed notebook pages on the client:

• Structured view of a server configuration
• Difference reports from selected IRIS servers
• Ability to filter out “false positives” from difference reports
• Periodic alerts of potential culprits, like expiring licenses or certificates

Use the Configuration Information tab to get a structured view of your IRIS instance settings. The display can be scrolled within the client window, or the information can be saved into an external file with a click of a mouse button. You can also define the depth of the information displayed, as well as select between multiple information categories:

• Configuration (CPF) information
• System security settings
• License information
• System and user tasks
• Database encryption settings
• OAuth2 authentication settings
• SQL table privileges
• NLS information, including locales and tables

Since the data is displayed in standard JSON format, it is easy to read, but can also exported for additional processing, for example reporting or archival purposes.

The Configuration Differences tab can be used to compare the settings of two IRIS instances. Verify that there are no significant configuration or security settings discrepancies between mirror member instances in order to facilitate a smooth failover transition in the future, when needed. You have the same controls as on the previous tab to define the categories and depth of the information to compare, and you can additionally specify filters to ignore “false positives”, masking insignificant data such as dates or instance names in the JSON output, for example. The comparison results can be viewed within the client, but you can also use an external visual compare tool of your choice to narrow down on the differences.

The Configuration Alerts tab displays periodic alerts of anything suspicious going on in the IRIS instances that you have specified to be monitored. Add as many IRIS instances as you’d like to this monitoring list and then specify the polling frequency. Get alerts in a separate window when they occur on one the monitored instances. The alert information is also stored in a persistent event log, so even if you log out from the client, you will be able to see them the next time you start the client again. As the alert information is also in standard JSON format, it can be easily fed to whatever paging or emailing system your organization is using.

For all these operations, you can select the necessary IRIS instances from a set of servers defined in the client. If you have defined some IRIS servers in the InterSystems cube (Preferred Server | Add/Edit… option), you can copy all those definitions to be used by the MirrorCompare client with just one mouse click. Since the REST calls made by the client to the IRIS server require authentication, you will need to set up the necessary credentials before you can use a server for these purposes. The supported protocols include HTTP and HTTPS, and the server definition dialog in the MirrorCompare allows you to test the connection to ensure correct setup.

MirrorCompare provides a modern Windows client that is easy to use, featuring dockable windows, menus and toolbars. You can organize the client to your liking and your setup is reconstructed the same way when you start the client the next time, unless you decide to reset to “factory settings”. Use the client to specify the visual compare tool(s) you want to use, as well as the authentication credentials on a per IRIS server basis, as described above.

For further information about MirrorCompare, and to request a demo or trial license, please contact us using the information request form link found on our home page.